Mosquito Abatement in Full Swing

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- In a joint response to public concerns, Community Associations of The Woodlands and Montgomery County Precinct 3 announced that the county’s annual mosquito abatement program is well underway.

The cooperative effort between the two agencies targets mosquito-borne disease, primarily West Nile virus (WNv) and nuisance mosquitoes. Working closely with Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS), the team conducts trapping and surveillance of mosquito populations and disease across the south Montgomery County area from May through October.

In addition to permanent locations, sites for traps are selected based on reports of dead birds and high numbers of mosquitoes. Collected mosquitoes are shipped to Austin for identification and disease testing. Over 560 samples were collected in 2007.

“Our response protocol goes into immediate action when mosquitoes test positive for West Nile virus, or threshold numbers of the carrier mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, are found,” explained Becky Cottingham with Montgomery County Precinct 3 Mosquito Abatement.

Ms. Cottingham said, “We follow a multi-pronged approach endorsed by CDC: daytime spraying of storm drains, nighttime street spraying, elimination or treatment of breeding sites, and neighbor to neighbor education.” During the 2007 mosquito season, TDSHS confirmed one human case of WNv in the county, a significant decline from six cases reported in 2006.

“The reduction in West Nile can be attributed in part to residents following good property management and taking personal protective measures,” according to Lynne Aldrich, manager of the Environmental Services Department for Community Associations of The Woodlands. “Controlling standing water and wearing repellent goes a long way to controlling nuisance and disease carrying mosquitoes,” she explained.

Educational efforts remind residents to monitor landscapes weekly for standing water and to remember these key behaviors:

- Wear repellent
- Eliminate standing water
- Treat if you cannot drain water

“In many cases, residents grow their own mosquitoes in plant saucers, birdbaths and French drains and by overwatering,” Ms. Aldrich said. “But together, we can beat this thing!” she said.

Residents in unincorporated areas of south Montgomery County can report dead birds and other mosquito concerns to Montgomery County Precinct 3 at 281-367-7283. In The Woodlands, call Environmental Services at 281-210-3900.